Mixed Lovebirds

[blbadgley]

I have a Dutchblue Lovebird and was given a Black-masked Blue Love bird. They made friends and the Dutch that I had thought was a male turned out to be a female and she and the Black Masked had 3 babies. I read that the Dutch is from a Peach faced and the Masked is from the Fischers family and that they should not breed. I understand that most likely the babies are mules. Is this true? I am not planning on selling or breeding them but I would like to know if anyone else has had any experience with inter breeding like this. I hope you can see the family picture.

[ROYJOY]

yes they can mate, but usually dont in the wild. i've seen several fischer/peach face in pet stores. im not sure if the offspring will be sterile, but some one here will know.

[Eliza]

The offspring of a peach-faced lovebird and an eye-ring lovebird (masked, Fischer's, etc.) will be sterile.

Interbreeding between the eye-ring species, however, can produce fertile young.

As Bud stated, the various species of lovebirds do not usually mate in the wild as their typical ranges to not cross. Cross-breeding the species is frowned upon in aviculture and should be discouraged.

That said, the babies are just darling and I'm sure that you are lavishing them with attention and care :) Best of luck with them!

[birdloverx6]

Despite being a mixed group, they are cute. And I bet their colors will be very pretty as well, keep us posted on their progress.